Recent content by PolarNorth78

Morning All, I am screeding the hallway and I need to place some new screed over the steel gas pipe under the stairs as some of the old screed has failed at the edges. It also creates a solid lip so I can tile upto the stair edge. Ive attached an image showing the pipe. Its only a couple of...

I thought about the angle Iron approach. However I found the treads were only 20mm so definitely needed some reinforcing underneath. That said, on the bigger spans I may pop some angle iron or a 45x45mm carling. Im letting it settle but it definitely creaks a lot less. And will be a lot...

This is the work in progress. Had a couple of snags: Skirting board was actually structural and held in by 4 nails. So that was removed and replaced with a wooden frame. In hindsight, better to have done the entire stair like that as much of it needed frame reinforcement in the end. 2 steps...

15 per board and 7 for the triangles. This tub of 800 is starting to look light...

Started the upper section and decided to use 18mm Plywood to create a shadow staircase underneath and reinforced with triangle bracing on the stringers. It's work in progress but you see the concept. The plywood is PVAed to the underneath and screwed in to create a single thicker plank...

You can get stacking kits for washing machines and dryers. Appreciate you may have them from different manufacturers but something to look at if not already done so. I have a stacked washer and dryer kit and it works nicely. Personally, I would not have a wall mounted washing machine. It's...

Endecotp, to add context and clarification, it was to reassure the OP yes it may be somewhere but be sensible. Testing a panel one is going to drill through is one thing, testing say a damp proof membrane in the brickwork "just in case" is likely to be over the top. In direct answer to what...

Note, If you do get something sampled it will not tell you the type of asbestos material, just what asbestos it contains (I.e amosite, chrysotile etc). If you want to know the material type (e.g Asbestos Cement or Asbestos Insulation Board) you need a water absorption test and about a post it...

Had a look at it all. It moved so quick at 2:13 so can't say what the panel at 2.13 is or isn't. Most of it will depend on what it was used for, just storage or a gas air central heating. If the latter could be asbestos panelled. The plastics (bakelite) and the gas hearth may contain it too...

From the sounds of it you're not familiar with working with Asbestos. Best thing to do is go on a non licensed removal course. It's a couple of hundred pounds but well worth it. Re disposal, do not even think about putting it in a normal skip. Asbestos is the 2nd most regulated industry in the...

How do you define expensive? You can get a Makita cordless SDS for just over £100. Plus battery and charger granted but that's no more than £50 for the entry stuff and you're into a good system. My Makita SDS+ has lasted 15 years and still drills a 28mm hole in a cavity wall. Appreciate £150 is...

I have hard bricks and blocks (medium density ones) in my house. The cordless bits do work eventually but as others have said, a SDS drill is super useful and will drill much quicker. If you're going for a SDS drill, do invest in good quality bits. I use the Bosch 5X or 7X. The 5X are really...

Update, Zinsser Gardz seems to have stabilised it a lot and worked a lot better than I thought. Painted without any issues.

Morning All, I'm teaching myself how to plaster and my latest attempt produced this. It's a very powdery and chalky and can rub it off quite easily. The undercoat and initial skim coat went on ok but the final surface wasn't level. Thus, I did quite a wet mix to fill and feather. Surface...